READING, PA – Defenseman Joe Rutkowski and the Reading Royals have come to terms on an ECHL contract for the Royals’ 20thanniversary season, the club announced Friday. Reading initially acquired Rutkowski’s rights in June from Rapid City to complete a prior future considerations trade. This is the third signing of the week for the Royals; forward Jackson Cressey agreed to a deal Monday and defenseman Mike Crocock inked Wednesday.
“Picking up Joe was an important move as we continue to find pieces that will round out our blue line,” Royals Head Coach Kirk MacDonald said about Rutkowski. “He was a good puck-moving defenseman at the NCAA level and expect him to add depth to our back end in his rookie season.”
The Crystal Lake, IL native stands 5-foot-10 and weighs 172 pounds.
Rutkowski, a 5-foot-10, 172 pound native of Crystal Lake IL, finished his collegiate career at Ferris State in 2019-20, depositing two goals and 12 points. Overall, he scored 6 goals and 55 points in 149 career NCAA games with Ferris State. During his sophomore and junior seasons, Rutkowski appeared in every game for the Bulldogs.
Rutkowski will be the 13th-ever Ferris State alum to play for the Royals, the most of any NCAA Division 1 institution.
He agreed to his first professional contract with Rapid City for his first two games of professional experience a year ago.
Rutkowski is the 18th overall player to join the Royals 2020-21 roster, joining goaltender #40 Luke Peressini, defensemen (8): #3 Rob Michel, #4 Aaron Titcomb, #6 Garrett Cecere, #8 David Drake, #19 Garret Cockerill, #24 Mike Crocock, #58 Dominic Cormier and forwards (9): #7 Mitch Vanderlaan, #9 Brayden Low, #16 Hayden Hodgson, #17 Jackson Cressey, #21 Frank DiChiara, #27 Luke Stork, #39 Brendan van Riemsdyk, #74 Luke Voltin, #81 Corey Mackin,
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